Hi. I'm Lara

First & foremost, I love learning. Author of the poetry collection, ex traction, I am a writer, editor, educator, artist, coach, reiki master, brainspotter, traveler, language lover, & walking heart. I love learning so much, I (and many others) joked I would end up 80 years old with ten degrees, but instead, after a major, a minor, almost two masters, & many certificates, I turned that love of learning into teaching & coaching brilliant individuals who are building spaceships, businesses, careers, & big, beautiful lives. It is a sneaky way I get to learn while sharing the happy-humaning wisdom I've collected, while helping people like themselves & the life they're building.

I studied Creative Writing, Linguistics, Education, & Marriage & Family Therapy. I've won a variety of awards for writing & community service over the last 20 years, had fiction, poems, memoir, & visual art published in lit mags, had my poetry turned into operas & in library dedications, been a featured artist at major museums & literary events, & taught at art schools & grand ecoles. I am madly in love with words, & art, & what humans can do to connect with other humans.

I'm also a bit of a modern day witch (I call my particular form of magic 'skeptical woo'). Somatics & trauma informed, trained in brainspotting (EMDR) & systems work, I know how to ask questions that help you finally see & (gently but firmly) face the thing that's holding you back from the feeling of joy, ease, & appreciation of all you've done in this life - you know, that thing that's making that exhausting humming noise in the periphery... we find a way to get past/over/through it, so you can build something that feels intentional, peaceful, you - & full of joy.

Most importantly, I really, truly care about how you think, express yourself, live, see yourself & your goals, interact within your relationships, make art, & engage with your craft & your world.

I have been helping people write, speak, & live with confidence for a very long time, & watching people's confidence in themselves & their craft grow is my favorite feeling.

I want you to really, really like yourself & how you do what you do, whether we're talking about your writing or your life.